As Anon ventured deeper into the Forest of Nightmares, a single thought burned fiercely in his mind.
“Yes, I am on the verge of victory. The looks on those noble pigs’ faces when I emerge triumphant will be a sight to behold.”
Suddenly, a half-transparent blue screen materialized before him.
[Your soul has been summoned to hell by the Fourth Demon God, Fremus.]
“No, no, no!” Anon’s body went limp as he lost consciousness.
His mind plunged into an alternate dimension.
Anon awoke to find himself in the same dark realm as before, surrounded by seven pairs of gleaming eyes.
“You have to send me back,” Anon pleaded as soon as he regained his senses.
“We cannot, for this is of utmost importance,” one of the Demon Gods replied.
“What do you mean? This race I was about to win, it was an epic competition. I had even gone to great lengths to secure victory. I cannot simply vanish like this,” Anon argued, his desire to return burning within him.
“Hisss Human brother… can any race truly matter more than your life? If you were to perish, what significance would the race hold Hisss?” the Demon God with green snake-like eyes hissed.
“What do you mean? How is my life in danger?” Anon inquired, curiosity etching across his face.
“The first Avatar of the gods has been sighted within your very academy. We do not know who this individual is, but we are aware that they possess knowledge of your identity,” Damacus revealed.
“How do you know this?” Anon asked.
“While you were engaged in the race, we detected a holy mana string within your academy being used to spy on you.” 𝒷𝓭ℴ𝓋𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶
“What? Please explain it to me in a way I can understand,” Anon implored, his gaze fixed on Damacus.
In the mystical realm of magic, a fascinating phenomenon known as “Mana Strings” weaves a complex tapestry throughout the world. Imperceptible to most mortal beings, these ethereal threads are visible only to the holy gods and the demon gods – beings of immense power and insight.
Mana Strings come in three distinct forms: neutral, holy, and negative. Each possesses unique properties and implications within the realm of magic.
[Neutral Mana Strings, the most enigmatic and elusive of the three, are challenging to track and detect. They exist subtly, blending seamlessly with the very fabric of magic itself, rendering them nearly invisible even to the most seasoned practitioners. Tracing the origin or purpose of neutral Mana Strings requires exceptional skill and intuition.
In contrast, Holy Mana Strings radiate a divine essence and possess a luminescent quality. They indicate the presence of sacred magic or benevolent enchantments. Holy Mana Strings are more readily identifiable and can serve as guiding beacons for those attuned to the forces of righteousness.
Conversely, Negative Mana Strings exude an ominous aura, signifying the use of dark or malevolent magic. Laced with foreboding energy, they repel the righteous and draw the attention of those aligned with darkness. Negative Mana Strings act as unmistakable signs of forbidden spells or sinister enchantments, enabling vigilant beings to identify and confront practitioners of the dark arts.
Whenever magic is wielded within this world, a Mana String forms, connecting the caster to the effects of their spell. These intricate threads linger for a period of twelve hours, serving as evidence of magical activity. By tracing the path of a Mana String, one can follow it back to its origin, identifying the individual responsible for the enchantment. Mana Strings become attached to the user, acting as a magical signature or fingerprint.
However, wielders of magic possess the ability to sever these Mana Strings effortlessly through the use of a specialized spell known as the “Disconnect Spell.” By employing this incantation, practitioners can sever the link between themselves and their magical endeavors, effectively removing the Mana Strings and preserving their anonymity.
Mana Strings, with their distinct properties and significance, add an element of mystique and intrigue to the world of magic. Visible only to the holy and demon gods, these ethereal threads provide insights into the intentions, affiliations, and magical activities of individuals within this fantastical realm.] Damacus explained.
“I see, so there is something like that. Can I witness it for myself?” Anon inquired.
“No, a human cannot see them. Their eyes lack the strength, and even a mere glance at one would liquefy your eyes,” Fremus explained.
“But if humans cannot see them, how can they disconnect them?” Anon pressed further.
“We cannot explain it,” Fremus replied.
“Brother, that is not crucial. When we detected the holy mana string, we realized it was exceptionally strong and could not have belonged to a mere mortal. As I attempted to track its origin, the user severed the connection, leading us only to your academy. All we know is that the individual within your academy possesses considerable power and was aware that we were tracing the mana string back to them,” Damacus continued.
“How did they discover that I am your Avatar?” Anon wondered.
“Ah, the human brother is indeed suspicious. That is good; I want him to be that way. Demons trust no one,” Damacus remarked.
“I, too, cannot trust individuals I have only met twice and have yet to see their faces,” Anon retorted.
“Hisss The human brother is astute, I like it Hisss.”
“It’s alright; allow me to explain. As our Avatar, you are connected to us through seven negative mana strings. Should you ever choose to employ negative mana spells, you will receive a direct supply of negative mana from us.
The same is true for him; he is connected to a holy god through a holy mana string. When he spied on you, his god must have tracked the negative mana string connecting you to us. Although we were unable to trace his string because we do not know his identity. Do you comprehend?” Damacus clarified.
“Yes, I understand. It was my mistake. I revealed too much,” Anon said, lowering himself to the ground as he contemplated the nobles who could potentially be the Avatar of the holy god.